Pronoun Problems

Who vs. Whom and

Incomplete Construction

When do I use each one?

Who = Nominative

Who will be attending the meeting? (Subject)

He is who? (Predicate Nominative)

Whom = Objective

To whom did you give the money? (Object of

prep)
She gave whom the money? (Indirect Object)
He kissed whom? (direct object)

The Challenge
The use of who and whom in a subordinate

clause is determined by the pronouns

function IN THE CLAUSE ONLY

Steps
1. Pick out the subordinate clause
2. Decide how the relative pronoun functions
in the clause.
3. Determine case of pronoun according to
function.
4. Select the correct form of pronoun.

Rule
No words outside the clause affect the case

of the pronoun.

Try it out!
Alex is the student (who/whom) got a perfect

score
Clause: (who/whom) got a perfect score
Use: subject of the clause
Case: subjects are nominative case
Form: who, because who is nominative

Try again!
I saw Ellen (who/whom) I knew from school.
Clause: (who/whom) I knew from school
Use: direct object: I knew (who/whom)
Case: objects use objective case
Form: whom

One more time!

Do you know (who/whom) she is?
Clause: (who/whom) she is
Use: predicate nominative: she is

(who/whom)
Case: pred noms are the nominative case
Form: who
Remember- no words outside the clause

count; Do you know can NOT be considered.

Incomplete construction
A sentence that is not finished, but is not

grammatically incorrect as a result-Than

and As
She is taller than I.
She is taller than I am.

After than and as in an incompletely

constructed sentence, use the form of the

pronoun you would use if you finished the
sentences

Examples-Incomplete Construction
The news surprised her more than me.

(more than the news surprised me)

I understand Jim better than he.

(better than he understands Jim)

I understand Jim better than him.

(better than I understand him [some other guy]).

Incomplete Split Construction

A thought that is interrupted must be finished
Maintaining a stable share is as important, if

not more important than, making a profit.

As important as, if not more important than

Her colleagues always speak of Professor

Collins as a person who has and will always

be sensitive.

Should be who has been and always will be